Coronado has adopted a slightly controversial master plan to enhance Cays Park, a 16-acre park located in South Coronado that’s dubbed as the city’s largest park.
The Cays Park Master Plan, which has been in the works for two years and was presented at the May 21 council meeting, drew some pushback from the Coronado community, as well as a couple of the council members.
Three out of four council members voted in favor of the plan, with Councilmember John Duncan opposed and Mayor Richard Bailey absent from the meeting.
The master plan
An initial design for the master plan was developed at the beginning of last year by Schmidt Design Group. The concept includes a thematic reflection of the natural and cultural wonders of the Silver Strand.
Through 130 project emails, 104 website survey responses and almost 800 handwritten comments from the public in 2023, the master plan was modified until the council settled on a preferred option in December.
“Unfortunately, we can’t give everyone everything that they want,” Glen Schmidt from Schmidt Design Group said of the plan. “But our effort is to give as many people as much as we can.”
The approved plan calls for $31.2 million in park renovations and developments, with 18 changes and additions, including:
- 75% of existing field space dedicated to organized sports.
- An elongated, enclosed dog park of at least 1.5 acres.
- An improved children’s play area with accommodations to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- full-court basketball court.
- A sunset view deck and hill.
- Lawn areas for informal picnics and play, separate from field areas for organized sports.
- Fabric shade structures
Schmidt said that although there is a list of improvements, oftentimes not everything in the plan is implemented and things can be tweaked and changed as the final construction drawings start getting made.
Thoughts on the master plan
During the meeting, in fact, council members and some community residents had some thoughts on tweaking the plan.
A few residents said they would rather not change the park entirely, just improve what needs to be fixed.
Council member Casey Tanaka admitted to ambivalence about the conflicting perspectives and the overall expense.
“What I am struggling with is, either vision is correct,” Tanaka said. “You really could leave the park alone, I think, and punt this down the road.
“But, I think there probably are some valid arguments that that is deferred maintenance that eventually you’re going to pay the piper on it. I’m maybe 60% [leaning] towards approving this plan that we’re looking at. But, I really don’t like the price tag.”
Tanaka said he was unsure about some landscaping designs, such as small hills, or mounds, in the middle of the park by the new playground and the potential sunset view deck.
Council member Mike Donovan pointed out that those who oppose the plan are not in the majority, and many residents do want change, according to surveys performed in the last year and a half.
“The park is overdue for an upgrade,” Donovan said. “We’re trying to design this park for public use for another 50 years.”
Duncan said he’s concerned about the price tag and the relocation of a playground, moving it farther from the parking lot.
“If you’re going to move something, give me the compelling reason,” Duncan said. “What is the massively compelling reason for moving the playground?”
Duncan also agreed with Tanaka on the landscaping choices in the middle of all the sports fields.
Council member Carrie Anne Downey in general liked the master plan, saying if they could save some money with the landscaping choices in the middle of the park, that she would be supportive.
We are now giving people that never had a chance to use Cays Park before [the chance] to use it. I think that’s part of the vision we need to all be looking for.
Council member Carrie Anne Downey
“We are now giving people that never had a chance to use Cays Park before [the chance] to use it,” Downey said. “I think that’s part of the vision we need to all be looking for.
Because of the varying views, Tanaka drafted a motion to approve the overall master plan with some revisions.
His motion included keeping the new location for the playground, but reconsidering landscape choices in the middle of the park to see if money could be saved there.
“At this point, I think this has been a very good effort,” Donovan said. “I think we’ve taken all the feedback, I think our designer’s done a fine job of balancing all these different amenities…I support going forward with this plan.”
